“In January 1966 we flew from Hong Kong to the Bau area of Sarawak, where, issued with some new lightweight equipment which enabled us to carry more rations and thereby extend our radius of action, and backed up by some remarkably resolute leadership at all levels, we were able to give the enemy a little more confrontation than he had perhaps bargained for.”
In January 1966 the Battalion deployed from Hong Kong to the Bau area of Sarawak. With new lightweight kit allowing greater endurance, and strong leadership throughout, they were able to take a more aggressive posture against the enemy.
Within a month, C Company under Captain Hughes was engaged in a follow up operation involving some of the hardest fighting since Burma in 1945. They suffered casualties from small arms fire and anti personnel mines, and endured a night of torrential rain with their dead and wounded among them. The men were sustained only by their own inner fortitude and the example of Captain (QGO) Nandabahadur Rai. The enemy were eventually scattered and later eliminated by 2/7 GR and a Police Field Force further north.
On 5 March, D Company commanded by Major Pike executed a highly successful ambush, killing 37 Indonesians without loss. Three platoon ambushes were positioned near two enemy posts.
- II Platoon, commanded by Captain (QGO) Indrajit Limbu MC, engaged 30 enemy and killed 23.
- Major Pike kept 10 and 12 Platoons in place to inflict further casualties and cover II Platoon’s withdrawal.
- Four hours later, 12 Platoon (2Lt Dawson) killed all 9 enemy who entered their position.
This was the heaviest single action loss inflicted on Indonesian forces during the entire Confrontation.
Later in March, intelligence indicated renewed enemy probing. The Battalion deployed with artillery support, despite poor maps and dense jungle. Major Thomson’s report on contact had a memorable tone: “I’m not sure of my own position, nor that of the enemy, but I can assure you that we’re both in the same place.”
Before planned operations could begin, D Company made contact again. Their patrol base on 24 March was hidden in secondary jungle. Enemy patrols were close — one sat just ten feet from the OP, where Rfn Kalusing Limbu remained motionless for six hours, ready to give the alarm without revealing his position.
Major Pike then led a hazardous night march to reposition the company astride the enemy withdrawal route. At 1000hrs, 25 enemy approached 10 Platoon, triggering a fierce close range firefight.
- Enemy suffered 13 casualties.
- 10 Platoon lost 4 killed and 2 wounded and had to withdraw.
- LCpl Hindupal distinguished himself and was later awarded the DCM.
The Battalion was strongly supported by F Troop, 132 Battery (The Bengal Rocket Troop). By 1500hrs, the rest of the Battalion was engaged across multiple locations. All except B Company were preparing to move forward when orders arrived from London to disengage.
Meanwhile ‘D’ Company were faced with getting their casualties out without the aid of helicopters, which were all engaged on operations on other parts of the front. It took the Company 48 hours to evacuate them over 10,000 yards of appalling country, including a swamp and three rivers, the two wounded men walking most of the way supported by their comrades. For sheer physical effort, this withdrawal of ‘D’ Company’s must rank as the outstanding achievement of the tour.
The 25th of March 1966 will long be remembered in the Battalion as a day of courage, success and sacrifice. The action was the nearest the whole battalion had come to operating as a complete unit in battle since the days of Burma 1942–45. With Major Geoffrey Locke, BC 129 (Dragon) Battery RA and his FOO’s and gunners, and Captain James Templar and men of the Bengal Rocket Troop, we shared a not to be forgotten experience.
Soon after this the Battalion was moved to Serian, south of Kuching, where, in the twilight of the confrontation, some very useful, and often extremely hazardous, patrolling was done by officers and men of the Battalion, happily without casualties. And on 27 May 1966, the “war” ended. By the 28 July we were almost all back in Hong Kong.
